Notes: Set after S7. A sequel to Fade Away which is a sequel to Echo. Be sure to read those two before you get into this one, it'll make absolutely no sense if you don't.
Notes2: I'm not really sure if this story is going to warrant a Tissue Warning but just in case- *TISSUE WARNING*
Disclaimer: I own nothing. Joss & Company own all. Evanescence owns 'Taking Over Me'
Thanks: To everyone who asked for a sequel. I really hope this doesn't disappoint.
~*~
You don't remember me, but I remember you
I lie awake and try so hard not to think of you
But who can decide what they dream?
And dream i do...
I believe in you
I'll give up everything just to find you
I have to be with you to live to breathe
You're taking over me
Have you forgotten all i know
And all we had?
You saw me mourning my love for you
And touched my hand
I knew you loved me then
I believe in you
I'll give up everything just to find you
I have to be with you to live to breathe
You're taking over me
I look in the mirror and see your face
If i look deep enough...
So many things inside that are just like you are taking over
I believe in you
I'll give up everything just to find you
I have to be with you to live to breathe
You're taking over me
I believe in you
I'll give up everything just to find you
I have to be with you to live to breathe
You're taking over me
You're taking over me...
~*~
He doesn't remember. He doesn't remember what they had. He doesn't remember what he was. He doesn't remember who she was. He doesn't remember anything about Sunnydale. He doesn't believe in vampires. He doesn't know anything about what really goes bump in the night. He doesn't know that he died a champion. He doesn't know about the months his love spent crying over his ashes. He doesn't know how he came back. He doesn't know that he wasn't supposed to be back. He was supposed to be dead. Ashes, gone. Only to be remembered. He doesn't know that he was gone in the first place.
What he does know that his name is William Ramsey. He is 27 with brown hair and blue eyes. He has prominent cheek bones that draws much attention. He is naturally pale skinned and he is gentle on the eye. He knows that he lives in Los Angeles, CA because he likes the sun. He is drawn to the light for some reason unknown to him. He knows that he had a close relationship with his mother before she died of cancer five years ago. He knows that life always takes us for a spin and he knows that fate exists.
What he doesn't know that sometimes fate only gives us a little push and everything else is up to us.
~*~
"You'd think Giles would realize that this would all get tiring eventually," Buffy complained as she browsed the shops in the mall, "I mean how many of these Slayers do we have to recruit anyway? I think we have plenty as it is back in Cleveland."
"Just one more, Buffy," Willow smiled as she walked down the stairs, "I think Giles pretty much realized that we don't have much more space."
"Yeah, I mean, it's been two years. The numbers have added up over that time."
"Wow," the redhead exhaled, "Two years. Has it really been that long?"
"I know, time just flies by when you're slaving day and night training new recruits, doesn't it?"
"And through that time you've still kept your witty remarks."
"Well," Buffy shrugged with a smile, "I do try." She looked up and nearly squealed in surprise, "Oh, look at those shoes!"
"What?" Willow asked disinterested.
"Those shoes," Buffy peered through the glass of the window, "Are those the new Gucci's?"
"Buffy," the redhead started.
"Yeah, I know, look but don't touch," she pouted, "But, it doesn't hurt to try them on, right?" She turned back to Willow, "Just give me five minutes."
Willow raised an eyebrow and looked at her skeptically. She knew that if Buffy dragged her into the store, they'd be stuck there for hours and the redhead was not about to waste her only afternoon free in a shoe store. She sighed before pointing at the door, "Go ahead but I'll be at the Apple store. They just came out with some new stuff."
Buffy wrinkled her nose in distaste, "A computer store?"
"You know, I can always change my mind."
"I'm gone."
Willow shook her head with a smile before she turned around and walked toward the shop. Things were finally better now. Everything was beginning to settle down and she was able to move on with her life. It had been a year since that day in Chicago and nearly two years since that day at the hotel. She still hadn't completely accepted everything but the pain had lessened. She still remembered it all but it didn't hurt to remember now. The pain was just a dulling one now. She still didn't find anybody new. She just wasn't ready for it yet. A part of her felt that she would always belong to Spike and no one else. Despite the insistence on Buffy's side, she couldn't just jump back into the dating scene just yet. Things were still complicated and confusing.
"Right, well, I'll call you back later, okay? Alright, alright, okay, I'll talk to you soon. Okay, okay, bye."
Willow's head snapped up as she heard the voice. Was she hearing things again? Because she could've sworn that the voice she just heard belonged to, "Spike."
The hoarse whisper slipped from her lips as she cast her disbelieving eyes onto him. It was Spike. She blinked a few times but everytime she did, he was still there. He was real. Her breath was coming in short pants and the bags she was holding before slipped from her hands as she ran up to him and threw her arms around him, "Oh, god, I thought you were gone." A few tears of happiness fell from her eyes as she continued to babble, never releasing her hold on him, "I missed you. You came back to me. They brought you back," She smiled, "I knew they could." She pulled her head back and kissed him passionately before he could protest.
William tried to clear the thoughts in his head as the woman wrapped around him hugged him so tightly that he could barely breathe before stealing that breath away with a kiss. He shook his head and cleared his throat, trying his best to pull away, "I'm sorry, miss, but do I know you?"
She continued to smile though her brow furrowed, "What?"
He pushed her away gently, "I don't believe I actually know who you are."
Willow scoffed in disbelief, "Spike, it's me, Willow."
"Willow?" He asked gently, "I don't think I know you. You may have me confused with someone else. My name isn't," he said in a curious tone, "Spike. It's William."
She froze, her thoughts swirling around in her head. "William?" she asked after a few moments of silence. "That was your real name," she whispered, more to herself then him.
"Well, yes, it is." He cocked his head to the side, "You seem familiar but I know I don't know you. I would remember someone like you."
"Yeah," Willow replied, her voice cracking, "You would." She began to back away slowly, "Look, um, I'm really sorry about that," she waved her hands about, "But, umm, I really, umm, have to, you know," the tears were threatening to slip from her eyes again, "Go, like as in now."
"Wait, miss," he reached out his hand to touch her, "Willow, wait."
She flinched at the sudden contact, the feel all too familiar. She looked into his blue eyes, everything in her body screaming for her to jump into his arms and never leave but she held herself back. This wasn't Spike. This was William. A complete stranger. Someone she didn't know. Someone she never knew at all. "I really have to go," she whispered meekly.
"Just wait a sec, okay?" He said gently. At her small nod, he continued on, "I know I don't know you but I'd like to. You're different and I mean that in a good way." He waved his hand at the distance between them, "Forgive me for sounding weird but I feel something between us, you know?"
She knew alright. She knew all too well. He had that same look in his eyes, the same look he had back at Giles' apartment the day he told her his feelings. She smiled weakly, wanting nothing more then to give in but she couldn't. No, not again. She couldn't go through that all over again. This wasn't Spike, she kept reminding herself. This was William. She didn't know him. And she shouldn't. "Yeah, but, umm, I really have to go."
"Don't, please, don't," He stopped her, "I don't mean to sound desperate but really, don't, at least not without giving me your full name or a number."
She shook her head and tried to stop shaking, "I really shouldn't."
"But, you want to," he smiled flirtatiously, "Don't you?"
Willow nearly broke down at the charming grin and smirk on his face. Oh, god, she couldn't do this. Not now, not with him. She backed away and held her hands out in front of her, "No, I don't. I have to go."
He reached out and grabbed her hand, holding it against his own, "I like you. A lot. I don't know why but I feel something between us and I like that feeling."
She pulled her hand back hurriedly and shook her head, "I know. That feeling was what got me in trouble the first place." She took a step back, "This can never happen. Not again."
"Again?"
She continued on, ignoring him, "I've finally dealt with it all and I cannot go through it all again as much as I want to."
"What?" He asked confused.
Willow walked up to him and placed her finger over his lips before kissing him softly. When she pulled back, his eyes were closed, savoring the feel of her. She held her hand up and whispered a few words in Latin. Moments later, William's sleeping body dropped to the ground, "Goodbye."
She walked away and never turned back.
The End